
Class, ?S?> V^A 
BooIcJLlSXIU- 



COPi'RIGHT DEPOSm 



The Dim Past 
and other 
, Poems 



BY 
AGNES RILEY 




BOSTON 
SHERMAN, FRENCH S^ COMPANY 

1917 



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SEP ^4 1917 



Copyright, 1917 
Sherman, French &" Company 



©G!.A47'^643 

"VuO ( ^ 



TO 
MY BELOVED MOTHER 

MY DEAREST FRIEND 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The Dim Past 1 

Thy Heart 2 

Honor 3 

Sympathy 4 

Music 5 

Kindly Sleep 6 

Millet's Angelus 7 

Sculpture's Miracle 8 

World's Peace 9 

Books Thou Dost Love 10 

Unrequited Love 11 

The Flowers' Secret 12 

Faith 13 

Baby's Eyes 14 

Masks 15 

An Incident 16 

Humanity 17 

Life's Bond 18 

A Mother's Dream 19 

A Glimpse of Love 21 

To a Bride 22 

To a Bridegroom 23 

A Whisper's Heard 24 

His Living Dream 25 

Sweet Sounds of Nature 26 

Contentment 27 

Earth's Robe of Snow 28 

A Brave Farewell 29 

The Recompense 30 



PAGE 

The Hidden Goal 31 

Night's Balm 32 

A Knock at Thy Door 33 

The Stars Reply 34 

" Sin No More " 35 

The Golden Key 36 

Brotherhood of Man 37 

A Legend 38 

The Ills of Life 40 

INIooDs OF Nature 41 

Earth 42 

A Gift 43 

The Nobler Part 44 

Glimpses 45 

Along the Strand 46 

Winged Thoughts 47 

Love Alone Understands 48 

Her Lover's Task 49 

Sirens' Isle 50 

The Web of Faith 51 

In Book of Life 52 

A Seedling Tender 53 

The Comet 54 

A Lesson from Nature 55 

The Whistling Boy 56 



THE DIM PAST 

AND OTHER POEMS 



THE DIM PAST 

The busy day o'er, in the cool dark of night 

Thoughts come as fair angels, with deeper in- 
sight. 

Thoughts come through the darkness, from no 
one knows where. 

We may entertain angels all unaware. 

Oh ! the fluttering, gentle, of memory's wings 
O'er the soul's dim past, which our angel guest 

brings 
To the dreamland vision, in the gloaming of 

night ! 
Its vague beauty still haunts in morn's early 

light ! 

Still haunt through all discord, all noise, and 

all strife. 
Dreams of the dim past, of more beautiful life 
That the soul may have known, and still ever 

yearns, 
As the past seems oft only half forgot dreams. 

Perchance they are memories that haunt us so. 

Memories of soul life lived long, long ago. 

So filled with vague yearnings is each human 

heart 
Through the earth life, in which each soul takes 

a part. 

[1] 



THY HEART 

Thy heart is the harp of a thousand strings 

Softly swept by the hand unseen. 
As the chords vibrate, thy heart sighs or sings 
With the good or ill that life ever brings 
To its strangely sweet changing dream. 

Doth thy faith grow dim when the mystery 

Of life's sorrow and pain draw near.'' 
Oh! may thy heart deepen in sympathy 
When the minor chords of the melody 

God strikes in His " music of the spheres." 

Though thy faith grow dim or thy hope for- 
sake, 

God's beloved child ever thou art. 
He strikes all the chords, He controls all fate, 
His changeless love ever will watch and wait 

For responding thrill of thy heart. 



m 



HONOR 

A JEWEL in the crown of men 
Who, through the cold and dark of years, 
Keep the soul's lustre yet undimmed, 
Not counting cost, nor knowing fears. 



[3] 



SYMPATHY 

A SWEET clasp of the hand — and silence 1 
A smile, a cheering look — and patience ! 

Sympathy is never given in vain 

The fainting heart will throb with hope again. 



[4] 



MUSIC 

The sweetest charm, O Music, of thy rhymes 
Is the winged thought that ever comes with thee, 
Sweet as the low murmuring summer sea 
Ever whispering of happier cHmes. 

Under the witchery of thy mystic spell 
Sorrow's forgot ; the stars of gladness gleam ; 
The heart is thrilled to effort, the soul to dream 
Of happier climes wherein immortals dwell. 



[5] 



KINDLY SLEEP 

GENTLE SLEEP, all cyes thy wings o'erdroop! 

Thee none resists, O thou all-soothing sleep ! 
Thou comest when the softly gleaming stars 

Do guard the soul, and night's dim vigils 
keep. 

O kindly sleep, thou comest with the balm 
Of sweet forgetfulness of life's dull care ; 

And thou dost cast o'er all a calm so deep 

That naught of life's turmoil can enter there ! 

O calming sleep, we wake from thy sweet dream 
When thou art softly stealing 'way in morn ; 

When memory returns as friend who comes 
To welcome us again to day's fair dawn ! 



[6] 



MILLET'S ANGELUS 

Only two roughly clad peasants ! 
No beauty here to careless view, 
And yet, the hand of genius drew 
The world t<o gaze as though entranced. 

O ! wondrous beauty of these souls 
Hid 'neath exteriors so rough! 
O! could we gaze but long enough 
To learn full meaning it enrolls ! 

We glean sublimity of patience 
In ceaseless toil of these rough hands, 
Rebelling not 'gainst life's demands 
As they toil on and on in silence. 

We, with these meek and lowly ones, 
Who in God's sacred presence are. 
May breathe a fervent, silent prayer 
While church bells ring in silvery tones. 



m 



SCULPTURE'S MIRACLE 

The sculptor will mould and fashion 
Clay pliant to his deft hand. 

His heart is glad when his fair dreams 
In marble purity stand. 

Is glad because dumb stone will speak, 
And so a miracle is wrought. 

It speaks in silent eloquence 

Of his mind-imprisoned thought. 

And we who gaze become silent 
While beautiful marbles speak — 

As silent as though sweet music 
Were whispering of goal we seek. 

O genius, mayst thou ever teach 
Hearts listening to understand 

Why marble rock is so pliant 
To the cunning of thy hand. 



[8] 



WORLD'S PEACE 

A VISION has been given man, 

" God's paths are paths of peace," 

A highway open to man's soul. 
To strive man will not cease. 

All history's page is writ all o'er 

With war's all-blazing fame, 
And yet — and yet — humanity 

May reach a higher plane. 

Di^'inity in heart of man 

E'er yearns for paths of peace. 
And greatest heroes of the war 

Still long for war's release. 

For the world's peace the best will strive 
Through travail of yearning soul, 

Through aeons of time, through mists of strife, 
Man dimly sees the goal. 



[9] 



BOOKS THOU DOST LOVE 

As thou scan'st page of noble book 

The soul of noble thought 
Doth seem to gaze, with loving look, 

On thee as kindred sought. 

Souls patient wait as ages roll, 

Steadfast as stars above, 
Communion silent with thy soul 

Through books that thou dost love. 

" Attractions point to destiny." 

Nobility is the goal. 
A book is thy affinity 

When soul communes with soul. 



[10] 



UNREQUITED LOVE 

When, thou veiledst the love light from me 
Of thy sweet eyes so brave, so true, 

The love that breathed of eternity 

Shone on my heart, and then withdrew. 

Life seems but naught without thee, dearest. 
Darkened is the light in life's sky. 

When beautiful, tender, deep and truest 
Of eyes veil their love light — yet I 

Would not forego the sorrow, the sadness. 

The bitter-sweet of love I woo, 
For I have learned of wondrous tenderness, 

Of deeps of love, through love of you. 

And I wander alone in the darkness, 

Thinking ever, ever of thee. 
I cannot forget thy witching sweetness 

Even though thou lovest not me. 



[11] 



THE FLOWERS' SECRET 

The earth is strewn with flowers fair, 
In woodland, dell and field, we greet 
The beauty and the fragrance sweet 
Of lowly flowers growing there. 

Some god has loved these mortals well," 
The flowers say, " to fill with cheer 
Of fragrant beauty their pathway here. 
This secret sweet we flowers tell 
To all who breathe the perfumed air 
Of flowers sweet, of flowers fair." 



[12] 



FAITH 



Faith, with generous trust, believes in truths 
Above the power of thought to comprehend, 
As we ask not for the visible proofs 
Of distant lands, seen by a noble friend. 



[13] 



BABY'S EYES 

In the ej'es of little babes 
Gleams the sweetest heavenly peace, 
Gazing unafraid at life, 
Knowing naught of love's surcease. 

Baby lives in happy clime 
Where love ever reigns supreme. 
Where life's discord is unknown, 
Where the lights of peace e'er gleam. 

In the eyes of little babes 
The wonder look of surprise, 
Seeing what they know not of, 
Makes the charm of baby eyes. 

Time will pass with silent tread. 
And life's discord will arise. 
Then sweet peace and wonder mild 
Steal away from baby's eyes. 



[14] 



MASKS 

Gazing at beauty's lovely mask, 

We think the soul's reflected in the face. 

Scarce can we deem it otherwise, 

So all-entrancing is its outward grace. 

A passing glance to homeliness 
Reveals to us the mask — we do not dream 
A soul of marvelous beauty's hidden 
Beneath the outward mask of homely mien. 

Oft beauty's mask is false, we know, 

As shallow soul beneath the charm we trace. 

Yet still we gaze with hope to solve 

The mystery of its marvelous grace. 

Fit dwelling place for noble soul 

Would seem this loveliness of form and hue; 

But if it show not, burning bright. 

The light within of kindly thought and true. 

We turn aside dismayed, for what 

Is empty house without a friend to greet? 

We seek the plainer face alight 

With loving thought and grown to us so sweet. 



[15] 



AN INCIDENT 

Strolling on life's highwa}^, two strangers 
met — 
A man, a maid, with love-lit e3'es. 
They looked at each other with wondering 
gaze — 
They gazed in strange and glad surprise. 

Love dawned. They were rapt in the wonder- 
ment 

Of affinities when they meet. 
The stars were gleaming in evening sky, 

The air breathed fragrance sweet. 

No one was nigh to mark the dawn of love. 

The gleaming stars keep secrets sweet. 
They passed without word — they were stran- 
gers quite — 

As strangers these kindred souls meet. 

These lovers will meet (gleaming stars tell me) 
In the fair land beyond the bourne. 

Where no barriers keep soul from kindred soul, 
And vet — till then, their hearts will mourn. 



[16] 



HUMANITY 

How brave, how fair the human race doth seem, 
Facing life's unknown good and ill, 

So generous in lending helping hands 

When storms of life grow dark and chill. 

Gifted with intellect and love, 

Battling, mid barriers that arise, 

In the divinely given task — 
Achieving the soul's paradise. 



[17] 



LIFE'S BOND 

O LIFE, we take thee for better, for worse ; 

Thou art a sacred, a sacred bond, 
Ennobling all who at duty's post stand, 

Bravely awaiting call from beyond. 



[18] 



A MOTHER'S DREAM 

Her sweet babe died, and through the long, 
Long sleepless nights came moan 

From her sad heart, " My sweet babe is — 
My sweet babe is alone." 

The watcher by her side had prayed, 
Had prayed that she might sleep. 

At last the moaning voice is stilled 
In sleep, sweet, calm and deep. 

And, oh ! So strange ! A smile was there 

To smooth the troubled lines 
Of her worn face. The watcher said, 

" In dreams her babe she finds." 

At last the sleeper woke and said, 
" I've dreamed a lovely dream 

' Of land where flowers never die,' 
And my sweet babe I've seen, 

" And, oh ! I've seen Love visible 
In form of angel sweet. 
In arms close-locked was baby dear. 
I kissed my baby's feet. 

" The angel smiled on me, and said, 
' The charge of little ones 
God gives to me (I'm Mother Love) 
Till from earth mother comes.' 
[19] 



" I thought no one could love my babe 
As I — and yet — and yet 
I now have seen in heavenly dream 
Love 'yond all love I felt. 

" I knelt and kissed her garment's hem, 
So sweet is sleep of little one. 
The angel said, ' It will on breast 

Of Love so rest till thou dost come.' " 



1 



[20] 



A GLIMPSE OF LOVE 

The little babe knows not the glad sweet joy it 

brings, 
Appealing to the mother's loyal heart of love. 
Its presence gladdens happy hours, and far 

above 
All sweetest music is the cooing note it sings. 

Thou art a thought within God's heart. His 
child elect ; 

A joy unto His changeless love undreamed by 
thee. 

Thy soul in God's pean of divinest melody 

Is note that makes creation's music more per- 
fect. 

Thus may we glimpse eternal love which heaven 

enrolls, 
The sheltering love encircling all that God has 

made. 
Let nothing daunt thy soul, or make thy heart 

afraid. 
Thou art a child of God, His love thy fate 

controls. 



[21] 



TO A BRIDE 

So sweetly brave thou comest 

To the altar rail, 
On love's strong arm thou leanest, 

Love that will not fail. 

" The love that breathes o'er Eden " 

Now descends on thee. 
Thy love so sweetly given 

Is of eternity. 

From girlhood's joys art parting.'' 
Love dawns o'er life's sea. 

Life's fairest prize art gaining, 
Heart devote to thee. 

On threshold thou art standing 

Of the larger life. 
Sweet dignity commanding 

Of the fair, young wife. 



I 



[22] 



TO A BRIDEGROOM 

Her heart of love, her soul so white, 

So white her virgin purity. 
So sacred is her trust 'twould seem 

God's hand has led thy bride to thee. 

To honor, love, to cherish her 

Until by death thy life shall cease ; 

To build a home wherein her heart 
May dwell in truth, in love, in peace ; 

Where light of duty's steadfast star 
May ever be thy fairest guide ; 

Where odours of love's wisdom sweet 
May ever in thy heart abide. 



[23] 



A WHISPER'S HEARD 

When mists are o'er life's unknown sea, 
When earthly care makes dim our sight, 
Our hearts then turn, O God, to Thee 
To softly pray, " Lead, Kindly Light." 

In God's fair heaven we live alway. 
Yet see it not with earthly eyes. 
We seek for it through each long day, 
Yet far beyond our reach it lies. 

The heavenward path is steep and long. 
The way oft dense as nature's wild. 
A whisper's heard as sAveetest song, 
God's sheltering arm is 'bout His child. 



[24] 



HIS LIVING DREAM 

O Madaline, thou are so sweet, so fair 
Thy flower face with pleading eyes of love, 
My heart with gladness thrills. The very air 
Is softly wooing thee, my sweet, white dove. 

Yet oft a chill so dread creeps o'er my heart, 
For death's pale shadow seems to follow thee. 
My sweetest one, I fear that we must part ! 
O thou, dread death, dost take my bride from 
me. 

In deepest grief her lover now doth stand. 
His brave, young eyes are dim with unshed 

tears. 
Will sweetest love now die in darkness, and 
Fair hope but mock through all the after years .'* 

Ah ! No ! No fair, sweet flower blooms in vain. 
Deep in her lover's heart is love entwined 
With thoughts that come again, and yet again. 
His living dream to nobler life enshrined. 



[25] . 



SWEET SOUNDS OF NATURE 

Great mother earth is wrapt in dreams, 
O hark, the soft, sweet sounds ! 

All nature is in gentle mood, 
Love notes in woods abound. 

The flutter of the rustling leaves. 
The whirring of birds' wings, 

The noise of tumbling waterfalls. 
The swish of gurgling springs ; 

The lapping soft of ceaseless waves, 

The murmur low of rills, 
The cooing sweet of gentle doves. 

O'er air now softly thrills; 

The zephyr sighing in the trees. 
The hum of bees o'er flowers. 

The lambs' soft bleat in grassy fields. 
The rain's soft noise in showers. 

The sweet, low sounds of nature seem 

To woo the sun above, 
Who veils his glance with tenderness 

When mother earth dreams of love. 



[26] 



CONTENTMENT 

When thou art handicapped in race of life, 
A generous heart will bitterness allay, 
And thou wilt be content in knowing thou 
Art treading God's divine appointed way. 

It is thy pathway, and as God approved 
When sending thee to earth with orders sealed. 
Thou know'st not why or wherefore of it all, 
As goal or God's design is not revealed. 

In sad defeat or in obscurity. 
Thy heart's content will then accept the role. 
Knowing that God's all-wise, all-loving hand 
Will ever guide thee to His hidden goal. 



[27] 



EARTH'S ROBE OF SNOW 

O FLAKES of snow, SO softlj coming down 
To clothe the earth all sere and brown 

In robe of white, the icy wind and thee 
Work miracles of witchery. 

The cold wind's icy hands o'er robe of snow 
Set brilliant gems that gleam and glow. 

In light of sun, earth seems a beauteous dream 
Of purity — a virgin queen. 

And when sun sets all in a rosy glow. 

Most beautiful is frosted snow ! 
Rose-tinted earth now looks a blushing bride, 

Too fair for night's dim shade to hide. 

Yet, soon the moon peeps through the clouds 
to see 

The glittering, glistening witchery; 
To cast over the magic garment white 

Soft rays of pure and silvery light. 



[28] 



A BRAVE FAREWELL 

Two lovers meet, and o'er barriers of life 
Look bravely into each other's sad eyes. 
The starlit heavens with benediction is rife. 
Sweet fragrance, like incense, doth rise. 

The lovers clasp hands in a long, long farewell. 
They shall not meet with love's sweet trust 

again. 
Should love requited be? Each heart doth tell 
Their joy would be at cost of others' pain. 

The stars gleam softly on these lovers brave. 
Each facing loveless life without a moan. 
The cost so great to them none knoweth save 
The softly gleaming stars and God alone. 



[29] 



THE RECOMPENSE 

We are baffled by life's mysteries, 

We are baffled by life's pain, 
And by the questioning thoughts that come 

Again and yet again. 

We crave to know if 'yond the bourne, 

(Yet all in vain we crave), 
If there we'll meet the dear loved ones 

Long silent in the grave. 

We are baffled when ingratitude 

Doth follow kindly deed. 
And oft by inability 

To meet life's daily need. 

Our tired thoughts return again 

To childhood's happy day. 
When baffling thoughts ne'er troubled us. 

We only thought of play. 

And yet, life holds sweet recompense, 

And we live not in vain. 
That God exists — that God is Love 

O'ershadows all life's pain. 



[30] 



THE HIDDEN GOAL 

Doth thy tired heart still ask 

Release from endless task? 

And dost thou yearn from earthly life to part? 

Couldst thou see the goal hid deep 
Thou wouldst thy patience keep, 
And tread the way of toil with cheerful heart. 

Let faith plead not in vain, 

It will thy heart sustain. 

Reward exceeding great still waits for thee — 

Waits thee when eartlily tasks 

Are done, and spirit casts 

Its sheath. Thy soul, the victor, is then free. 



[31] 



NIGHT'S BALM 

If thou thy bruised heart wouldst heal of hurt, 
The tender darkness seek of night, 

When all the world's asleep, when only God 
And thou watch stars in silent flight. 

Then lay aside the brave mask that thou wear'st 
At duty's post through the long day. 

The tender dark of night will then draw thee 
Near God and thy hurt heart will pray. 

And through the fragrant darkness God will 
send 

To thy bruised heart the healing balm 
That breathes of His unchanging love alway, 

Enfolding thee in sheltering arm. 



[32] 



A KNOCK AT THY DOOR 

Blest art thou with Love's sheltering care, 
In home where peace reigns sweet and mild? 
A little child craves shelter there, 
Craves shelter from storms rude and wild. 

A little waif, with wistful eyes. 
Knocks at thy door. May it ope wide ! 
For shelter pleads. Dost hear its cries.? 
Seeks mother love by thy fireside. 

It's frighted by cold winds' rough blast. 
It's hurt by jostling, careless crowd. 
Wilt share the blessing that thou hast. 
Or close thy door if waif cries loud? 

Oh \ May thy door swing wide to greet. 
To welcome homeless waif within ! 
Thy love a little child may keep 
From treading path to crime and sin. 



[33] 



THE STARS REPLY 

O STARS tliat gleam with light, swing low ! 

jMist dims the way above. 
Of God so great — Oh, tell — know'st thou, 

Know'st thou if God is Love? 

Cold thought has darksome made the way - 
Made dark the way above. 
" God is," the gleaming stars reply, 
" God is Unchanging Love." 

stars that gleam with light, swing low ! 

Oh, tell of God's great love ! 
" Love is," the gleaming stars reply, 

" Love is all thought above. 

" The babe close locked in Love's brave arms 
Knows naught of love so nigh. 
We stars, like babe, know naught of love, 
God's love so great, so high." 



[34] 



" SIN NO MORE " 

And Christ had come, and lowly kneeling at His 

feet 
Was Magdalene. Release from sin her heart 

would se'ek. 
His comprehensive gaze, so clear, could ever see 
In deep, repentant grief, the soul's nobility. 

" Arise and sin no more," her sad heart hears, 
With tenderness of tone that stills all fears. 
The past effaced, her soul awakes, 'twould seem, 
From sin's long trance in which the senses 
dream, 

To the Christ life of purity and love 
Revealed by the voice from heaven above — 
The mystic voice that breaks all chains of sin, 
Throws wide the gate of the soul life within. 

Christ's love still yearns. From man he ne'er 

would part, 
Whispering " Sin no more," to each frail heart ; 
Still yearns the barriers of sin to rend. 
His voice still murmurs, " Come up higher, 

friend." 



[35] 



THE GOLDEN KEY 

God, loving all, destines for heaven each soul, 

The Godward path is ever open goal. 
Love is the key unlocks the gate of heaven. 
To each and all the golden key is given. 
When thou all men dost love, the heavenward 
path is trod. 
Heaven is within thy heart when thou lovest 
God. 



[36] 



BROTHERHOOD OF MAN 

True, royal men will ever walk the earth, 
Fulfilling highest law of brother love. 

In their great hearts, of love there is no dearth. 
All petty thought of rank they rise above. 

In brotherhood's handclasp of love they see 
That love, and only love, is true nobility. 



[37] 



A LEGEND 

A FAIR, sweet maid of Italy 
Was kneeling 'fore a sacred shrine, 
Her white hands raised imploringly 
To her patron saint, St. Catherine. 
The sweet innocence of her prayer 
Would lure an angel to harken there. 

The pathetic praj'or of her sad young heart 
Was an anguished cry for earthly love. 
Yet in earthly love to ne'er take part 
Was vow she made to heaven above. 
Her prayer was heard by the evil one 
Who deemed her soul was now his own. 

And straight he 'sumed a youthful guise 

And to the sad, sweet maiden came. 

Low whisp'ring her that love's sweet prize 

Was hers if she would only name 

The day, and cast aside the cross. 

(She listened most attentively) " 'Twas dross 

" So fair, so sweet a maid to vow 
Her life to long captivity. 
Free earthly love was hers e'en now." 
(He whispered most persuasively.) 
From the cross her hands were loosening. 
The evil one was eager, trembling. 

[38] 



Will St. Catherine at this moment look 
Upon the child, sweet pity in her heart, 
For charge of hers she ne'er forsook. 
'Twill make the evil one depart. 
Oh ! angels pray for this dear child, 
She is so young, so sweet, so mild. 

St. Catherine heard the angels' prayer. 
Swift fell the mask from evil's face. 
The sweet child swooned, for there 
Stood evil in the place of grace. 
Angels wakened her, and through her tears 
She kissed the cross through after years. 



[39] 



THE ILLS OF LIFE 

The ills of life they come and go. 

Each heart must taste of human woe. 
When thou the ills of life must face 

A iprayer breathe to God for grace. 

'Twill give thee courage to endure, 
And brave endurance will enure 

The heart against the sad despair 

And gloom that follow earthly care. 

The ills of life they come and go 

Like storms that o'er the ocean blow. 

If thou lose courage in the strife, 
'Twill mar the good of fairest life. 

Some ills oft lead to sad disgrace. 
Which longest time will not erase. 

Not only thou, but thy loved ones, 

Must bear the brunt of scorn that comes. 

May God be with thee everywhere. 

Oft ills of life come unaware, 
And in terrific storms' alarm . 

Mayst thou have help of God's strong arm. 



[40] 



MOODS OF NATURE 

Through thy days of storm and sunshine, 

changing ever, 
Thou art like a lover, O Nature, in thy moods. 
Oft thou woo'^t gently, as rills softly murmur. 
As cooing winds stir the trees to whisper in the 

woods. 

Days of deep depression, sulky fogs and splash- 
ing rain, 

An unrequited lover, thou hast thy da3's of 
gloom. 

In thy storms an angry lover, who would strike 
the pain 

Of terror to hearts of those who fear the crash 
of doom. 

Like a strain of heavenly music come thy bril- 
liant days. 

Then thou art a glorious lover, reigning o'er 
the land. 

We, thy lovers, love thee through all thy various 
ways, 

Responsive to the moulding of thy beloved hand. 



[41] 



EARTH 

Veiled, O Earth, in misty atmospheres. 
Like a great chariot thou roU'st through space, 
Heeding naught in thy sublime eternal race, 
Divinely swayed by " music of the spheres." 

Bravely beautiful art thou, of noble prestige. 
And we, the favored children of fleeting time. 
Thou wilt safely carry to happier clime. 
To forget our laughter our tears of voyage. 



[4.2] 



A GIFT 

Immortal hope is ours, we mortals say, 
Gift of gods to children of fleeting time, 
To recompense the shortness of our day. 
Immortal hope of destiny divine! 



[43] 



THE NOBLER PART 

Love came to her with sweet, alluring tender- 
ness, 

Offering royal recompense for the world's 
roughness — 

Came with the witchery of an art so magic 

That life seemed all athrill Avith heavenly music : 

But conscience whispered through the heavenly 
strain. 

Low, murmurming sad, sad, fateful words of 
pain. 

" Love for thee is sin, for thee is sin," 

Whispered the sad refrain as through a sacred 
hymn. 

Making her heart grow still in love's exalta- 
tion. 

Listening to whisperings of renunciation. 

Renunciation seemed to her the nobler part. 
True to the inward voice guiding her yearning 

heart. 
Love could offer no sufficing recompense 
When Divine Reproach whispered through con- 
science. 
Sweeter far the approval of the " still, small 

voice " 
Which e'en through suffering bade her heart 
rejoice. 

[44] 



GLIMPSES 

Sweet is the glimpse of love in shelt'ring arms 
When the babe nestles 'gainst the mother's 

breast. 
The little yearning heart sweetly at rest, 
Shielded from alarms. 

If in Sacred Script thou wilt lowly read, 
Glimpses of truth, white light on mountain peak, 
Are revealed, if thou wilt but truly seek 
The soul's deep need. 

The glimpsing beauty of earth's rosy dawn. 
Sweetly entrancing, a most lovely dream. 
Foreshadows beauty eyes have never seen, 
The Heavenly Dawn. 

Sweet as the fragrance is of flow'ring urns 
Are life's fair glimpses of love, of beauty, 
Shadowing forth Divine Reality 
The soul ever yearns. 



[45] 



ALONG THE STRAND 

The lovers stroll along the strand 
On starry eve, stroll hand in hand, 
Whisp'ring winged words of love close by 
the summer sea. 

The softly gleaming stars draw near. 
To listen to love's words, and hear 
Love whisp'ring, ever whisp'ring of 
love's eternity ; 

Words freighted, fateful, reaching far 
Beyond the softly gleaming star. 
Freighted with the charm, the deeps of love 
whose sweetest vows 

The lovers whisper on the strand. 
When strolling gently, hand in hand. 
With mystic love-light gleaming softly 
o'er their brows. 



[46] 



WINGED THOUGHTS 

A WINGED thought scales the depths and the 

heights 
Of heaven's blue, plays 'mid the distant stars, 
Returns to, earth, swift as bird on tree alights, 
Swift as lightning flashes near and far. 

A winged thought will take an eagle flight, 
Liberate the soul in heavenly air. 
Return again to earth with greater light, 
To loose some galling chain of slavery there. 

'Mid barriers that impede, that uprise. 
Along the pathway of our earthly day, 
Fair winged thoughts of peace and love arise. 
Restful as stars, sweet as flowers of May. 



[47] 



LOVE ALONE UNDERSTANDS 

The little babe lifts its weak, tiny hands, 
Appealing for the love which is its life. 
Love responds, as love alone understands 
The mute beseeching, the weakness, the strife. 

When sorrow's anguish would benumb the soul, 
Helpless as the babe our beseeching hands 
Appeal to the Love the heavens enroll. 
" Deep grief is dumb ! " Love alone under- 
stands. 

Oft in the street thou see'st the helpless blind, 
Beseeching aid. Love alone understands 
The sad appeal, and love is ever kind. 
The noblest in the throng lend helping hands. 



[48] 



HER LOVER'S TASK 

" Give me some task," her youthful lover cried, 
" To prove my love, my sweetest one, some 

task." 
" Love me ajway," the maiden softly sighed, 
" Love me alway, alway, is all I ask." 

The maid was young, with eyes of deepest blue. 
Her lover laughed to scorn the baneful thought 
That he to her could ever be untrue 
E'en though time changes in her beauty 
wrought ; 

And yet, through after years, her lover knew 
The softly whispered words " Love me alway," 
Was task of constancy that brought him rue. 
That haunted him through many a fateful day. 

" Love me alway " was scarcely, scarcely heard 
When maidens came with laughing eyes so gay. 
In after years, to lure him from his word 
To her who only said " Love me alway." 



[49] 



SIRENS' ISLE 

A ROCK-BOUND coast, a land of luring dreams, 
Of perfumes sweet, of beauty, color, lights. 
With laughter's charm of gaiety and song — 
All witchery of sensuous delights. 

Who sails to this alluring land of dreams 
Ne'er 'scapes the tangling, soft, bewitching neb 
By sirens cast with art's alluring charm. 
So magic e'en men bravest will forget, 

And cast upon the rock of Siren Isle 
All precious things that life has held so dear. 
For when fair sirens smile, none will resist 
The path that leads to ruin oft so drear. 

'Tis more than passing strange, and sad to see 
The fatal charm of luring smiles that mock — 
Weeds noxious grown mid life, benumbing 

flowers 
That ffrow about the dark and fatal rock. 



[50] 



THE WEB OF FAITH 

Are we weaving strands in the web of fate, 
With indifferent careless hands? 
Let us pause and think ere it be too late 
To unravel the tangled strands. 

The tangled strands in the web of fate 
Bring sorrow, anguish, dread fears. 
Our careless hands will be too late 
To wipe away grief's sad tears. 

The hands of love weave strands of gold, 
Bring joy, gladness, sweet cheer; 
With all the wealth of love untold, 
Strew happiness far and near. 

We are weaving strands in the web of fate 
For distant futures yet unborn. 
Let us pause and think ere it be too late! 
The beautiful web is marred if torn. 



[51] 



IN BOOK OF LIFE 

We see in wearied faces of the eld 

Deep furrows and the lines of anxious care. 

We know their trembling hands have long up- 
held 

The burdens' weight that wrought the furrows 
there. 

We see in angel faces of the young 
The charm of beauty, innocence and grace, 
Unconscious of the shadows that will throng 
Along the path their joyous feet now trace. 

With dimming eyes, age sadly looks at youth, 
Recalling time when they were young and fair. 
The happy young can scarce believe the truth 
That time will line their brows with sadd'ning 



Amid the darkness and the doubts that throng 
About the trembling hands and falt'ring feet, 
Deep in our hearts we know that there is One 
Who seeth all the pathway, long and steep. 

One who doth see in secret and reward 
The good, however lowly and obscure. 
In Book of Life an angel doth record 
Brave deeds of those who suffer and endure. 

[52] 



A SEEDLING TENDER 

To God alone thy heart is known. 
He hears thy yearning love toward Him. 
A seedling in thy breast is sown 
Of God's fair realm of heaven within. 

And all within thy heart 'twill keep 
And bring to thee life's sweetest dream. 
Of God's unchanging love 'twill speak 
In murmurs soft as rippling stream. 

As yet, it is a seedling tender, 
Half crushed by world's discordant din. 
Oh, cherish it for thy heart's wonder 
When gleaming stars keep vigils dim. 



[53] 



THE COMET 

Oh ! star so softly gleaming 
Thy light in silence streaming 

Through misty white trail, 

A stately bride thou seem'st, 
As through the heavens thou gleam'st 
In misty white veil. 

Oh ! comest thou with fair portend, 
Or dost thou war's ill omen send 

In thy bright soft trail? 

With strange awe we look on thee. 
Fair vision of deep mystery. 

Seen in bridal veil! 



[54] 



A LESSON FROM NATURE 

The earth is ever beautiful. 

Birds sing, but not of woe ; 
Yet sadness is in human hearts 

Wherever we may go. 
Yet in the beauty and brilliance 

Of nature's sunlit face 
Of sadness of the human heart 

We find not any trace. 

For nature ever hides and hides 

The woe of saddest storm 
Beneath the beauty of sunlight, 

And joy again is born. 
And in the great and glorious beams 

Of the all-radiant sun, 
The happy birds they ever sing 

Of triumph that is won. 

What doth the joy of nature teach 

Our sad, sad hearts alway? 
Who wears the mask of cheering grace 

At duty's post each day, 
Will learn how fair is bravery. 

How fair is cheering grace. 
From beauty of the sun's brave light 

That gleams o'er nature's face 



[55] 



THE WHISTLING BOY 

Oh ! you cheery whistling boy ! 

You boy in the street ! 
So unconscious of the throng 

You jostle those you meet ! 

Flinging out the gladsome notes 
Of some loved rattling tune ; 

Oftentimes the jo3^ous notes 
Of birds that sing in June, 

Oft you make the passers-by 
Think of boyhood's day, 

Of its joyous freedom when 
Boys have right of way. 

"Wliistling of the gladsomeness 
Of life's morning joy. 

No one seems so free of care 
As you, whistling boy. 



[56] 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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